Page 52 of Sincerely, Butterfly

The poor man has dementia, it’s not his fault. But can’t someone keep a pair of damn underwear on that man?

“Nola.” Mom knocks at my door, making me jump.

Slamming the laptop shut, I climb off the bed and open my door. “Hey, Mom.” I smile.

“What are you doing in there?” she asks me, trying to peek over my shoulder. “You’ve been spending a lot of time in your room the past few days. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine.” I smile. “Just making sure I have everything ready to start school next week.”

“It’s crazy that you’re starting college already.” She smiles. “Ugh, where did my sweet baby go?”

“I’m right here, Mom.” I laugh. “Just getting older.”

“Don’t you talk to me about getting old.” She waves me off. “Have you seen me?”

“And you’re just as stunning as the first day I met you.” Dad steps up behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

Mom giggles as Dad peppers kisses on her cheek, neck, and head.

“Ew. Get a room,” I joke, loving how cute they are together.”

Dad looks at me, raising a brow. “I mean, if you want us to.”

“Toren!” Mom slaps his arm, her cheeks turning bright pink. “Stop that.” She turns to me. “Ignore your father. We came to say goodbye.”

“You’re leaving?” I ask, my smile falling.

I’m looking forward to not having to worry about my comings and goings for a little while, but I haven’t been away from my parents for more than a weekend here and there at a time.

“I’m gonna miss you.” I step forward, giving them both a hug.

“Call if you need anything,” Mom reminds me. “If you need us to come home, we’ll come home.”

“She won’t need us to come home,” Dad says. “We earned this time for ourselves. Nola is a big girl, she can handle herself.”

“I know,” Mom says. “She’s still my baby girl, though.”

Dad steps forward and gives me a hug. “Be good,” he warns.

I can’t help but snort out a laugh. “Oh, yeah. I’ll be good. So good.”

“Nola,” he chastises, pulling back. “Remember what I said.”

“I know.” I nod.

What my Dad doesn’t know won’t hurt him. He has no idea of my plans for tomorrow night. And their leaving today is perfect timing.

Once Mom and Dad are gone, I head back into the room and open my laptop.

“Shit,” I hiss, realizing I’ve missed something as I watch them get into a car and take off. “Damn it.”

Clicking out of the live feed, I scroll back through the recorded feed, stopping when I see them opening the front door.

“Two months,” Sylas groans as he sulks down the steps. “Two months of jerking off. Do you know how fucking sick and tired I am of blowing my load all over myself rather than some sobbing bitch on her knees?”

Ah, okay then. Not what I was expecting him to say.

Wait, did he say two months of jerking off? Does that mean… No. They haven’t gone two months without having sex, have they?